Wanli Emperor Chapter 86 Part 2 (Patreon)

Chapter 86 Part 2: The Turning of the Seasons; a Heavy Burden and a Long Road

Xu Jie spoke with conviction. "Your Majesty, annexation cannot be suppressed!"

"In the three thousand years of Huaxia's history, great states have swallowed small states, great merchants have devoured small merchants, and great clans have consumed the common people. It has been so since ancient times, and there has never been a means to arrest it." [TN: Huaxia refers to the Chinese civilization.]

"Silver naturally flows to where there is more, and small streams always converge into great rivers."

"The central government withers by the day, the common people are drained of marrow and blood, while the officials, gentry, wealthy merchants, and landlords expand with each passing day. Though there may be a decline after reaching a zenith, or a stroke of heavenly fortune, these are but rare exceptions. It is not until the old is replaced by the new, and another cycle passes, that there is any fundamental change."

"This is an element of the course of Heaven. It is not something Your Majesty can bleed from the middle to sustain the two ends!"

Xu Jie's expression was resolute.

This catered to His Majesty's preferences, yet it also reflected his heart's true convictions.

Annexation was not something that could be halted by executing people.

Power and wealth would always gradually concentrate. Though it was an ineffable reality, this was the truth he had observed throughout his life.

The so-called unity of knowledge and action meant that once he possessed this realization, he would naturally participate. This was the enlightenment of the School of Mind.

Zhu Yijun finally could not resist clapping his hands in applause.

"A fine disciple of the School of Mind!"

"A fine 'unity of knowledge and action to extend innate knowledge'!"

"We were wondering how a man like Xu Shaohu could perform these deeds with such peace of mind. So this is his 'innate knowledge'!"

This was not sarcasm—it was genuine.

Although these words seemed paradoxical, they had grasped the essence of class stratification.

As Xu Jie stated, in any well-ordered age, resources would always tend to concentrate—it was merely the form of expression that differed.

Whether it was land annexation, the monopolies of great merchants, or the legacies of three generations—it was all the same principle.

Xu Jie had perceived it clearly and chosen to participate without hesitation. It was not inappropriate to praise him as a great master of the School of Mind.

Seeing His Majesty's reaction, Xu Jie hesitated, wondering if he had overreached.

What if His Majesty, unable to refute him, became enraged and ordered his execution? What then?

As Xu Jie hesitated, Zhu Yijun finally spoke again. "So Xu Qing believes that this is the course of Heaven, and therefore, when dynasties reach the time for the seasons to turn, there is no need to struggle?"

The former hesitated for a moment, then clarified, "Your Majesty, it is not so. The central government's response is also part of the course of Heaven."

Why was it that in every dynasty, as it approached its end, a reformist faction would begin to emerge?

It was because when a thing reached its zenith, it would inevitably decline, and there would surely be resistance. This, too, was part of the course of Heaven.

Yet likewise, this could not alter the fate of the turning of the seasons.

Therefore, when he was at court, he worked tirelessly, submitting memorials on resisting the northern barbarians, supervising education, aiding Hai Rui, and protecting the Prince of Yu. 

Yet upon returning to his identity as a country squire, he annexed land, controlled the villages, and preyed upon the common people.

This was Xu Jie's School of Mind: in a certain position, one performs its duties—he considered himself to have achieved the unity of knowledge and action.

Zhu Yijun nodded. "Xu Qing's words have resolved a doubt for Us. We, too, have something to say."

The former sat upright, already resolved that no matter what His Majesty said, he would immediately prostrate himself in submission. He had demonstrated enough—it was time to beg for mercy.

Zhu Yijun rose and, out of habit, gestured with his hands. "We understand Xu Qing's meaning."

"We have studied history and observed governance for some time now."

"From the Shang and Zhou to the Song and Yuan, from eunuchs to ministers, from the localities to the central government, We have witnessed countless rises and falls."

"As it is said, 'swift in its rise, sudden in its fall.' A single person, a single family, a single faction, a single place, and even a single dynasty are all subject to this cyclical fate of the turning of the seasons."

"Throughout all of history, there are cases of 'governance growing lax as officials become complacent,' 'the policy dying with the man,' and 'seeking glory only to find disgrace.' In short, all exist within the turning of the seasons that Xu Qing spoke of."

"Xu Qing calls this the course of Heaven, and believes that the annexation which drives this process cannot be halted, and that one should go with the flow."

"Thus, you willingly debase yourself and add fuel to the fire."

At this point, Zhu Yijun paused. "Yet, beyond Xu Qing's reasoning, We also possess reasoning of Our own."

His expression gradually grew profound, his tone inscrutable. "First, whether the matter of annexation constitutes the course of Heaven, and whether it can be halted, remains to be determined."

"Before the Qin dynasty, to suppress annexation, the well-field system of the nobility was transformed into small-scale peasant farming."

"In the two Han dynasties, to suppress annexation, powerful clans were relocated into the Guanzhong region."

"The Wei and Tang dynasties implemented the equal-field system."

"The Song implemented the Square Field and Equal Tax Law."

"The seasons turn, yet we can always advance year by year. Xu Qing, the matter of suppressing annexation has been undertaken by every dynasty, and each generation's methods have grown more refined. How can you be certain it will never succeed in the future?"

"Even if it is truly an unstoppable course of Heaven, if We do not attempt it, how can We be reconciled?"

"Second, you have perceived the turning of the seasons and willingly debased yourself, drifting with the current. We—look down upon it!"

"In antiquity, the Three Sovereigns were clad in ragged animal skins. Today, an ordinary wealthy household can wear fine silks and brocades."

"Before the Qin, the nobility wrote on bamboo slips. Today, an ordinary scholar can write with ink on hemp paper."

"Smallpox, for which the Tang and Song were helpless, has saved countless lives since the method of inoculation was spread from Ningguo Prefecture."

"Xu Qing, the seasons turn, yet the myriad things have not ceased evolving."

"The cyclical fate of the turning of the seasons is not greater than the Great Way of the evolution of all things."

"Xu Qing, let Us speak plainly: even if our dynasty is destined to fall, We will not await Our end with bound hands as you do!"

"Regarding the matter of annexation, for every measure accomplished, there will be some effect, and the people will have another breath of life. How can We abandon this?"

"Even on the day before the dynasty falls, the tasks that must be undertaken—We will not cease a single one!"

After Zhu Yijun finished speaking, silence fell upon the hall.

Xu Jie's lips moved, then closed again.

He had nearly been unable to resist debating philosophy with His Majesty, but then he recalled his circumstances and forced himself to hold back.

His emotions at this moment were exceedingly complicated.

He had come with the intention of catering to His Majesty's disposition, to display his own reasoning and integrity. In truth, he had not expected to hear any profound insights from the emperor.

Unexpectedly, His Majesty had truly surprised him.

The reasoning he had just articulated, though it contained an element of performance, was also, to some degree, drawn from the depths of his heart.

The scholarly families with generations of literary heritage, the ever-expanding local tyrants and landlords, and the merchants in every trade who squeezed out newcomers.

To say nothing of others, of the many minor officials executed by Hai Rui this time in the Southern Directly-Administered Region, nearly all were from families where the position passed from father to son.

This was a spontaneous human tendency, not a deliberate conspiracy by anyone to bring chaos to the country.

Spontaneous meant a natural trend—he did not believe the Great Ming Dynasty could prove an exception.

He simply had not expected... Xu Jie glanced at His Majesty. Truly a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, he sighed inwardly.

High-spirited, indulging his convictions—just as his former students and subordinates had described, the current emperor was courteous yet obstinate, gentle yet conceited!

He held the course of Heaven in contempt, intending to reverse heaven and earth through his own ability.

He even spoke presumptuously of some Great Way, with an air of not fearing failure, of remaining true to his original conviction!

To Xu Jie, His Majesty's words were something of a fool's dream, yet he still could not help but begin to admire this youthful vigor.

The emperor before him was precisely like all clever people in their youth—including himself, Xu Jie.

A look of bewilderment crossed Xu Jie's face. In his youth, he too had believed that all things were like the rising morning sun, that with sufficient will and strength, it could always remain so.

Yet, as he grew older and experienced excessive helplessness, he finally understood what was meant by the course of Heaven.

At this thought, a surge of resentment suddenly rose in his heart.

His Majesty possessed firm convictions, but what clever person did not? Who had not passed through this stage?

On what grounds did this newborn calf have the right to pass judgment on his unity of knowledge and action?

Had not the young Emperor Shizong been the same in his youth? He focused his spirit, leaving no matter unattended, also like a rising morning sun. Yet what came afterward?

On what grounds did His Majesty believe he could remain true to his convictions and maintain consistency to the end?

After he had experienced it, after he had witnessed excessive helplessness, would he still possess the dignity to utter such words?

At this thought, Xu Jie drew a deep breath, suppressing his irritation—his life remained in another's hands; he could not casually display his displeasure.

Yet since His Majesty had spoken thus, he, on the contrary, wished to observe what His Majesty could ultimately accomplish.

Would he reverse the course of Heaven, or would he fade into mediocrity!

Who was correct and who was mistaken was not determined by who spoke the grander words.

Xu Jie did not respond for an extended period, and the hall remained silent.

After a considerable interval, there was finally movement.

Xu Jie composed himself, bowed respectfully, and pleaded guilty. "Your Majesty's instruction is correct. Your subject now comprehends his transgression!"

"This subject begs Your Majesty to show mercy and pardon the crimes your subject committed in his previous state of confusion."

"Allow your subject, in the flickering candle of his remaining years, to achieve the unity of knowledge and action one final time, to put the knowledge of Your Majesty's instruction into practice, and to contribute my meager strength to Your Majesty's grand design."

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